The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-12
aAnd was this your only motive

sir?
sit was my only motive
And have you not presumed tc
place yourself on an equality with my
daughter? Have you not taken advan
tage of her youth and my absence to
ingratiate yourself in her favor? In
short, sir, have you not presumed upon
the hospitality awarded by my wife,
and offered address to my child. every
way distasteful to her family 90
No, sir, no, [ have not thus pre-.
sumed."
Myra heard no mora sharp sense of
humiliation, thousand confused
thoughts flashed through her brain. and
with pang at her heart such SIS she had
never dreamed of before, she darted up
the stairs. White and gasping for
breath, she paused at the top, made a
| grasp at the baluster for support, and,
for the first time in her life, she tainted
ppou the floor.
Humiiating and bitter, indeed, were
the thoughts that flowed through the
| young girls mind, when she awoke from
her swoon and found the sweet face of
her mother bending over her; proud
and keenly sensitive, she felt as if the
dignity of her self respect had been ir
/ retrievably outraged. Never in this
life had young Whitney spoken to her
of love, and in all her thoughts of him,
the idea of passion had never once min
gled
But now she felt in her innermost
| heart that something stronger and more
powerful than mere friendship had
/! driven the blood from her heart when
VI Sh rd hi al Il s.
| feelings and hopes that he had never
breathed, perhaps had never felt.
This knowledge of her own heart,
thrust so rudely on the young girl, was
but another pang added to her outraged
pride, and for days not even the sweet
and soothing care of her mother had
power TO console her.
In this state of feeling Mr. d. left his
child and retured to his legislative du-
ties The very day after his departure
from home, there came letter for Ny
ra-a letter from the man who now oc-
cupied her every thought. She broke
, the seal in the presence of her mother,
and read such words as made her
heart thrill and her pale cheek glow
again.
Nothing but the harsh words of your
father would have given me confidence
to address you so, the letter said "but
there was something in those words,
cruel and cold as they were, that gave
me the first CLEAN of hope | have dared
to entertain-hOpe that the great love |
feel for you might be returned. Say
only that this hope-it is faint and
humble-will not be thought presump-
ton, and surely some means can be
found by which the prejudice which
your father exhibits against me will be
removed"
She loved, she was beloved. The
weight that had bowed down her pride
was swept away by that letter, like mist
before a glowing sun. A hopeful and
Joyous creature was Myra, and her light
heart shook off the trouble that had 0p-
pressed it as wild blossom casts the
dew from its petals She answered the
letter. Modestly and with sensitive re-
serve, she yeiled the affection that thrill
ed at her heart as she wrote to him for
the first time, but still Myra answered
her lovers first letter, and in all this her
contidant was that loving and gentle
mother
Let US hope for the best, my child"
the fond woman would say. when
your father knows his worth, as we do,
and is satisfied that you love him
truly, then he will relent. We have but
10 wait"
They did wait, and in the meantime
letter after letter came and went, thus
linking those two young hearts more
and more firmly together.
Mr.. ID. came home at length, and now
the tue reason of his dislike to Whitney
became manifest. hyra was intended
tor another. Wealth aud station, every
thing that could win the sanction of a
proud man, was In favor of her father
choice, and on the very day of his re-
turn he explained his intentions and his
wishes TO the young girl.
on shall have a noble fortune,
my child" he said. "Few ladies in
America shall give SO fine a property to
husband"
"Fatherp' answered Myra, and it was
wonderful how mild and firm the young
girl remained, knowing, as she did, how
powerful were the interests she opposed
with her fragile strength-"F Father, |
can not marry this man. do not love
him, and viii never commit the sin of
wedding without affection"
The young girl was very pale, but
there was mild firmness in her eye that
revealed all the pure strength that sus-
tanned her. She paused, drew a deep
breath, and while her father stood gaz
ing upon her, dumb with astonishment,
she added
II will never marry any man but Mr.
Whitney. for while he lives | can never
love another"
And now that it was over, Myra began
TO tremble: for there was something ter
rible in the fierce and pallid rage that
he'd her father for time mute and mo-
tionless before her. At length his lips
parted, and his eyes flashed.
whitney the migrate, the imp0stor,
you love-you would marry him against
my consent ?"
NO, | will never marry any man
against your consent, papa, replied Ny
| ra, bursting into tears; for her strength
had been taxed to the utmost, and she
was not one to brave parents wrath
| unmoved. 'I can remain single. and
will, if you desire it; but with the feel
ipgs that | have for Mr.. Whitney, il
would be a sin should Igive one thought
to another"
Mr.. ID. gazed on the pale, earnest face
of his child as she spoke, but there was
no relenting in his face. Anger, scorn
a thousand wrathful passions broke
through its pallor, and he answered in a
voice of cutting scorn:
/ And this man, you told me, had
never breathed word of love 20 you in
| his life"
Myra was about to acknowledge the
letters that had passed between Whitney
and herself, for there was a seeming ius-
| tice in the proud mans taunt that cut
her to the heart; but she thought of hel
mother, of the self-sacrificing mother
/ who had so generously risked the dis
pleasure of her husband in sanctionina
the letters her child had received, and
she only answered, al can never love
another, papa"
4 Mr.. ID. turned away, and began tc
pace the room. His lips were pressed
forcfbly together, and uncomfortable
passion seemed burning in every vein
/ of his body.
Thank GodF' he muttered, turning
furiously upon the terrified THANK
God, no drop of my blood runs in youI
veins"
/ " Papal o papal this is terrible
Why, in your anger against me, say
things that are as cruel as they are with
out foundation - cried Myra, start
| ing to her feet, and approaching he
father.
| j" Without foundationi 1t is true
| girl, say it is true. You are not MI
chiIdr'
II She did not believe him. How coulc
she, poor girl; with the household link
of many happy year clinging abou
her hearl7 One word could not tea